Probably the most famous composer of plainchant, Hildegard von Bingen’s musical works were recently rediscovered and brought to light in the late twentieth century, when feminists sought to reclaim the history of music by women. Though she lacked a formal education, she is one of the very few known composers who wrote both the music and words, utilizing her substantial knowledge of theology and devotional chant, acquired throughout a life completely devoted to serving God. Much like her predecessor and teacher Jutta, Hildegard was known for being a visionary theologist, one who sees visions from God. Her reputation as such assisted in raising her status within the church and the German community. Ultimately, the written recordings of these visions and musical settings of her own liturgical texts would leave behind quite a legacy.
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From an extremely early age, she showed signs of a deep and intimate connection to God, and by the time she was the age of five, she had begun experiencing visions, which she called “The Shade of the Living Light.” Later on in her life, Hildegard would explain that these visions showed her the light of God through her five senses: sight, taste, hearing, smell, and touch.
When she was eight years old, her parents entered her into a monastery, although some scholars believe that Hildegard was first placed under the care of an older woman, Countess Jutta von Sponheim, and the two then enclosed together at the Benedictine monastery of Disibodenberg six years later. The subject of her enclosure remains arguable, as her Vita (biography of a saint) says she was professed with Jutta, whose known date of enclosure was when Hildegard would have been 14, in
From an extremely early age, she showed signs of a deep and intimate connection to God, and by the time she was the age of five, she had begun experiencing visions, which she called “The Shade of the Living Light.” Later on in her life, Hildegard would explain that these visions showed her the light of God through her five senses: sight, taste, hearing, smell, and touch.
When she was eight years old, her parents entered her into a monastery, although some scholars believe that Hildegard was first placed under the care of an older woman, Countess Jutta von Sponheim, and the two then enclosed together at the Benedictine monastery of Disibodenberg six years later. The subject of her enclosure remains arguable, as her Vita (biography of a saint) says she was professed with Jutta, whose known date of enclosure was when Hildegard would have been 14, in